A “boring” third round for Jason Day has put him right in contention for a drought-breaking PGA Tour win at the Byron Nelson in Texas.
In a strong day for Aussies on the tour, Minjee Lee will also take a three-stroke lead into the final round of the LPGA event at the Founders Cup in New Jersey.
After a bogey on the first, Lee went on a tear to birdie four of the next eight holes, before an eagle at the par-5 12th.
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Lee is one of four Aussies in the top 20. Grace Kim is five shots back, Sarah Kemp seven shots, and Stephanie Kyriacou eight back.
Day meanwhile carded a five-under 66 to sit in a tie for fourth just two shots behind a three-way tie for the lead.
But making “boring birdies”, Day said, is better than making exciting ones.
“Sometimes when you’re making birdies that are exciting, [it’s because] you’re in trouble,” he said.
Day was three-under through the first five holes, before steadying. He made more birdies at 11 and 14, before the sole bogey at 16, after a poor pitch shot left him too much work to do to save par.
Austin Eckroat, Marty Dou and Ryan Palmer share the lead at 16-under. Eckroat and Dou are chasing their first PGA Tour victory.
Scottie Scheffler was in a group of players at 14-under but faltered at the par-5 18th when his second shot hit the lip of a fairway bunker and stayed in it. He made bogey.
He missed two more decent chances at birdie on the back nine before the trouble on 18, when he also missed the green on an easy approach shot after finally getting out of the bunker.
“I just thinned it,” Scheffler said of the first bunker shot. “I wasn’t even thinking about the lip. I just hit a terrible shot.”
Palmer had an eagle putt for the outright lead on 18, but the 35-footer stopped just short, leaving him at 68. Scheffler shot even-par 71 after the best two-round start to his career with a pair of 64s.
Palmer, a four-time winner on tour without a solo victory in 13 years, had a shaky start to the back nine before finishing with three birdies in five holes, capped by the tap-in at 18.
“It was a patient day,” the 46-year-old said. “I knew I was going to be one or two back, worst case. It’s going to be nice to be in the final group again, and we’ll give it our all.”
A forecast for bad weather will see players tee off earlier in groups of three, from both the first and 10th tees.
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